So, since I'm doing things a bit different this year, and still trying to determine everything I want to do, how I want to do it, etc etc, I'm a little disorganized, but it's coming along nonetheless.
I decided earlier this year, that with all the free "curriculum" and stuff available out there, especially online, I would utilize it, especially seeing as how funds are limited. I have the book "Homeschool Your Child For Free" and have also acquired "What You're Third/Fourth/Kindergartner Needs To know." These are great sources of info. The 1st has countless websites to obtain free curriculum, worksheets, etc, and the publisher(?) of the second has a website where teachers have submitted their own curriculum based on the books, all organized by grade level. This is their site http://coreknowledge.org/CK/index.htm, it's a great resource for all subjects, all grades up to 8th. I have printed up a lot of their stuff, and thanks to my mom for bringing home loads of binders for me (her office was just going to chunk them all, yet perfectly good shape, so she brought them home for me), which is saving me loads of money, I am assembling my own "text books" that I can use however I want. Not having to follow a certain way, which makes it easy for Faith. We go at her pace. Sometimes slower, sometimes faster, depending on the day. I'm also using Cindy Downes free Unit Studies http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/unitstudies.html for History & Science. I am going to be trying to follow topics for Science & History in chronological order from the beginning of the Bible. Right now we are studying archaeology to start, and then will be doing the Creation, breaking it down as we go through it.
We started a little later than I had planned this year with the formal studies, because it took me longer than I had anticipated to get stuff printed up and into binders, especially with everyday things and other extenuating circumstances that would arise, always getting in the way! LOL. I began in early-mid July, and was not prepared to start until late September, where I had hoped to start the first week. Oh well, only a few weeks late, right! LOL. That's one of the benefits of homeschooling. Besides, they weren't without learning that whole time anyways, as any of you unschoolers will be able to testify to. I will be posting of some of the things we did during that time. I also plan on getting better at photographing and documenting the little things and other learning opp's.
I discovered last year, that though Faith was supposed to be starting 3rd grade, she could barely subtract, and had a lot of difficulty with math. It was so frustrating for her and I both, and she would end up crying. I knew 2 things, 1)it's not her fault, or that she's not capable of understanding, because she has been proven to be "gifted & talented" at one PS she went to (so therefore it was their fault), and 2) there has to be a different and better way of teaching her these things that will be fun, fit her learning style, and she will actually understand & retain it. Boy, I can figure out how to teach a lot of things differently, but math? Not so much. Maybe because I'm not so good at it myself? Don't know. So, I've spent a lot of time trying to figure it out this last year (12+ mo's). Well, I began running across helpful things, which we are still playing around with different ones to see what works best (while all the while reminding myself that I don't have to commit to one style or another). I have found a book that gave me ideas, and some curriculum from the Core Knowledge site for timed facts (she does better at the addition, than subtraction). I utilize different things, even stuff right off the top of my head to pull out to help her to understand, from Math Bingo & flashcards, to tracing my hand on the marker board, & putting imaginary pennies above each finger (requires explanation probably). I also found Add & Sub facts Lapbooks. OH thank you GOD! I think these are the best thing YET! A real blessing. She has taken to it, like (place analogy here). She actually WANTS & ASKS to do them! Oh wow! So, I have been letting her work mainly on those, and I am certainly going to be getting a BUNCH more file folders! LOL. I definitely plan on making lots and lots of lapbooks! Watch for pics!
Sorry this is so long, I really am trying to keep it short, but this is a rundown of this years methods, and what we are coming to. I am also looking at possibly notebooking, but that's another blog.
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